Experts in England and Wales are in the unhappy position of having to use different Statements of Truth in reports directed at the civil, crime and family courts. To help you get the wording correct every time, we list exactly what is required below. You can find links to all the rules at http://www.jspubs.com/Experts/library/lib_eridx.cfm

Civil

All that the CPR require is a statement embodying the declarations in CPR PD 3.2.9 and the mandatory wording of the Statement of Truth in CPR PD 3.3. The following two paragraphs achieve this.

I understand that my overriding duty is to the court and I have complied with that duty. I am aware of the requirements of CPR Part 35, its practice direction and the CJC Guidance for the instruction of experts in civil claims.

I confirm that I have made clear which facts and matters referred to in this report are within my own knowledge and which are not. Those that are within my own knowledge I confirm to be true. The opinions I have expressed represent my true and complete professional opinions on the matters to which they refer.

Family

Reports written for cases covered by the Family Procedure Rules

Date introduced: 30 January 2013Relevant rules: FPR PD 25B 9.1(i)

The Family PD requires four declarations (PD 3.11 and PD 3.12) and the mandatory wording of a Statement of Truth. The following two paragraphs achieve this.

I am aware of the requirements of FPR Part 25 and associated practice directions, I understand that my overriding duty is to the court and I have complied with, and will continue to comply with, that duty. I have no conflict of interest of any kind.

I confirm that I have made clear which facts and matters referred to in this report are within my own knowledge and which are not. Those that are within my own knowledge I confirmto be true. The opinions I have expressed represent my true and complete professional opinions on the matters to which they refer.

Obviously, if you do have a conflict of interest you need to consider the further guidance in PD 9.1i(ii-iv) and modify the second sentence of this declaration accordingly.

a statement that the expert understands his duty to the court, and has complied and will continue to comply with that duty; and

the same declaration of truth as a witness statement.

However, in the criminal arena, unlike the civil, statute itself prescribes the equivalent of a statement of truth. So the Criminal Procedure Rules do not offer a mandatory wording.

What the expert needs to do is to declare that:

any fact contained in the report is true, whether a fact within the expert’s own knowledge or the fact that something relied upon by the expert as fact came from the source the expert identifies, and

the expert’s opinions are all true, to the best of the expert’s knowledge and belief.

We believe that the following should achieve that end.

I understand that my overriding duty is to the court and I have complied with, and will continue to comply with, that duty.

This report is true to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I know that if it is introduced in evidence then it would be an offence wilfully to have stated in it anything that I knew to be false or did not believe to be true.

The position in Scotland

According to the Professional Practice Helpline of the Law Society of Scotland, there is no requirement for a statement of truth on expert witness reports prepared for use in Scottish courts. Scottish courts rely far more on the oral evidence from expert witnesses, which will be given under oath.